Mexico vs. Guyana: Preview, Start Time, Predictions and More

While the United States will take its shots in Group A of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying semifinal round, Group B is shaping up to perhaps be the most competitive and exciting group of all.

Mexico, Guyana, Costa Rica and El Salvador will battle it out over the next several months with the top two teams advancing to the hexagonal round of qualifying. Three teams total from the CONCACAF region are guaranteed a spot in the World Cup, with the fourth-place team getting a play in against the Oceania region winner. Every game from here on out will be sure to see each team leave it all out on the pitch so that it can ensure it spot in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Starting off the excitement, we will see a Mexican team that is the defending Gold Cup champions with gaudy World Cup aspirations take on a Guyana team that surprised many by winning Group B of the second round of CONCACAF qualifying.

Where: Estadio Azteca, Santa Ursula, Mexico City, Mexico

When: Friday, June 8, 8 p.m. EST

High hopes for 2014

Mexico, highly considered to be the best CONCACAF team, proved just how good it can be with a 2-0 victory over Brazil on Sunday. 

Although the Brazilians didn't have their best squad playing in the match, any time you can beat Brazil it will certainly gain the attention of all international soccer fans. Led by Javier Hernandez, who notched seven goals in last year's Gold Cup, as well as Aldo De Nigris and Giovani Dos Santos, Mexico will be a team to be reckoned with should it qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

In 2010, Mexico made it into the knockout stage but was promptly eliminated by Argentina, a disappointing result for a talented squad. 

However, if it gets to Brazil in 2014, it could be even better, but it will have to go through Guyana and the rest of Group B first. 

Golden Jaguars looking to make a splash

Representing a country with a population of less than three quarter of a million people, the Guyana national squad has done its nation proud just to get to the semifinals of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Guyana emerged in Round 2 from a highly competitive group in which the top three teams were separated by only three points in six matches. Guyana with 13 points stayed just one point ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and three ahead of Bermuda to earn its spot.

Their current three-game winning streak is the longest in national team history and the team currently ranks 99th in the FIFA World Rankings. 

If the Jaguars are going to score a massive upset and knock off Mexico in the Group B opener on Friday, they will need solid play from their top players such as Leon Cort, Ricky Shakes, and captain Chris Nurse. 

Group B leaves little room for error

Along with the top-notch Mexico team and the up-and-coming Guyana squad, Group B also features two other teams with legitimate World Cup hopes in Costa Rica and El Salvador. 

El Salvador currently ranks 49th in the world while Costa Rica ranks 59th, and most experts believe that whichever team can come out on top in their two matchups will join Mexico in the next round of qualifying out of Group B.

For Mexico, however, it is essential it does not slip up against Guyana in the opener, because if it does it could come back to bite it later on in the group stage.

Both El Salvador and Costa Rica advanced to the fourth round (hexagonal) in 2010 World Cup qualifying, with Costa Rica coming up just one loss to Uruguay short of advancing to the World Cup.

Both of those squads are capable of advancing, so Mexico needs to take care of business against the weaker Guyana team.

Prediction

It may be the greatest accomplishment in Guyana national team history just to make it this far, and it certainly will not want to get embarrassed by the more experienced teams on this level. Look for Guyana to try and slow the pace of the match down and see if it can hold the Mexicans off the board, and maybe pull out a draw.

However, Mexico is simply too talented for Guyana to keep up with and will take advantage of any slip-ups and turnovers from the Guyana defense. Look for Mexico to strike early and take the wind out of the sails of the Golden Jaguars with the help of its passionate home fans on their way to an easy 4-0 victory.